The New England Patriots (1-2) and Buffalo Bills (3-0) are under 90 minutes from renewing their AFC East rivalry in Orchard Park, New York.

Ahead of kickoff, each team has revealed their inactive players for Week 4. With star players and key contributors missing on each sideline to practice squad elevations and new faces in the lineup for game day, both rosters are set — and create intriguing matchups that could play a major factor in deciding the contest’s outcome. 

Here’s who’s in — and out — of New England’s Week 4 clash against Buffalo:

The following players on the Patriots’ 53-man roster will not be active this afternoon:

The Patriots’ defense will be severely shorthanded in the secondary and at the line of scrimmage with the absences of cornerback Christian Gonzalez and defensive tackle Christian Barmore, who did not participate in practice this week and were ruled out for Sunday with shoulder injuries on Friday. New England will almost assuredly be forced to run more zone coverages to compensate for the loss of Gonzalez, while the interior defensive line will also be down their most productive player against a rushing attack that’s sure to test the Patriots early and often between-the-tackles.

Also notable on the Patriots’ list of game day inactives is rookie cornerback Channing Canada, who was limited in practice throughout the week with a hamstring injury. He was ruled out on Saturday and did not make the trip to Orchard Park with the team.

The Bills will not be dressing the following players:

The Patriots may have been the only team to rule out players ahead of Sunday's showdown, but there will be some key contributors missing from the lineup when each takes the field: 

In addition to the losses of Gonzalez and Barmore against Buffalo, the Patriots also had an expanding list of players with questionable designations who will be active.

On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Christian Elliss (chest), edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones (shoulder), and safety Craig Woodson (shoulder) were all limited participants in practice and carried injury designations for New England heading into the weekend, but will play. 

Offensively, Drake Maye (right shoulder) popped up on this week’s practice report for the first time this season, but was a full participant all week and does not carry an injury designation. Right tackle Morgan Moses (foot) did not participate in practice on Wednesday or Thursday, and returned in a limited capacity on Friday. Former Bills’ fullback Reggie Gilliam (knee) did not participate on Thursday and logged limited participation tags on Wednesday and Friday, while Eli Raridon (thigh) was limited all week. Moses, Gilliam, and Raridon were all questionable for Sunday, but will be out there when the action kicks off.

New England also placed guard Greg Van Roten on injured reserve this week, who started in place of Mike Onwenu in Week 3. While Walter Rouse was Van Roten’s initial in-game substitute, Ben Brown will get the start for the Patriots to begin divisional play.

While Buffalo has also had their fair share of injuries on the weekly practice report, their game day health will be in much better shape than that of New England.

One essential piece to the Bills’ defense — cornerback Christian Benford — will not be on the field during Sunday’s contest, however. While not graded exceptionally well to start the 2026 season (40.6 defensive grade, 95th of 97 cornerbacks, per PFF), Benford has operated as Buffalo’s top boundary cornerback for the greater part of the last five seasons since being drafted by the Bills in the sixth-round (No. 185 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.

These players were called-up from the practice squad for Sunday’s game:

New England elevated two players from the practice squad for Sunday afternoon’s contest: safety Mike Brown and cornerback Kindle Vildor.

For Brown, Sunday marks his second of three possible elevations for the 2026 regular season, and his second consecutive week being added to the game day roster. Originally signed as an unrestricted free agent on March 12, Brown projected to fill the third safety role behind starters Kevin Byard III and Craig Woodson with active participation through the early offseason program. He was surpassed by the incumbent Dell Pettus (now on injured reserve) in training camp, and his outside chance at making his way onto the 53-man roster was written-off when the Patriots traded for Jaylen Reed. 

Vildor signed with New England as an unrestricted free agent on March 23, and was in direct competition with Charles Woods as the veteran substitute in the cornerback room. He was signed to the practice squad after finishing the preseason on a sour note with a shaky performance in the finale. He returns to the game day roster as veteran depth that can provide immediate contributions on special teams in replacement of the injured Channing Canada.

Buffalo made two practice squad elevations this week, adding defensive backs Te’Cory Couch and Kani Walker to their game day roster. 

Couch made his debut for the Bills last week and registered one tackle. He was originally signed in 2024 as an undrafted free agent and spent his rookie season on Buffalo’s practice squad.

Walker was signed as by Buffalo as an undrafted free agent this spring and turned heads in training camp and the preseason, recording an interception in the Bills’ preseason opener.

How do you think New England will fare in this afternoon’s clash between two AFC contenders in Buffalo? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on Patriots Roundtable.

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